things you cant do with an M26 50HP

[marc ducharme]

Here is the start of a list of things that I cant do with my 26M blue 50.

1. In 5 to 6 foot lake waves with white caps and a 20 to 25mph wind, i cant tack unless my boat speed is above 5 kt. , as i get into the luff zone the speed rubs off and the waves overpower the boat and i am back on a broad reach, trying for more speed. Started motor for a little help ya i know i could have gybed, but i didnt want to

2. Cant stop the Admiral from squealing when the rub rail is underwater, and I am telling her that this is fun

3. cant hide my docking mistakes, with a blue hull, everyone wants to know the story behind the intricate markings that look a lot like scuff marks.

4. I cant beat an X with a genoa, and three on board, when i have my jybe up and solo sailing, but i can slowly start to catch up on a close haul,
HMMM may be a blue with a genoa could do better . the x and i will try again once i get a genoa, we are both intersted in pushing our boats and improving our skills, with a little racing and drinks.

5. Cant do anything with my but start the motor in a 30 to 45 mph wind and pouring rain as i found out the second day of my sailing lessons, the instructor was nice and said that most coastal sailers of this size should not be on the water in these conditions, and how would i like to take the sails in and head into shore and do my writen exam the next day an older sea salt asked us if we saw the three crazys on the lake during the strom yesterday, we said no we were to busy trying to sail

6. I cant beat a tri hull anywhere except back to the marina

7 I cant stop having people being impressed when I sail and launch and retreive to boat on my own

8.I cant stop saying "sailing ya gota love it"
9. Cant stop coming to this board and enjoying ALL of the posts, even the real puffy ones .
10. cant wait to get back on the water, so far 50 nm since may 6


So if any of you hardy Mac owners have any personnal experiences of what you cant do with your mac, i sure would like to hear about it.

[Frank C]

3. cant hide my docking mistakes, with a blue hull, everyone wants to know
the story behind the intricate markings that look a lot like scuff marks.

Great sense of humor!

So just tell 'em that blue hull is like a fine leather hide, and
those "character marks" simply express genuine uniqueness!


Ever heard of "Small Craft Warnings" (> 18kn per USCG),
OR maybe "Gale Warnings" (> 34kn per USCG)?
Fly some cajones from that flag halyard!

[baldbaby2000]

1. In 5 to 6 foot lake waves with white caps and a 20 to 25mph wind, i cant tack unless my boat speed is above 5 kt.

Have you tried backwinding the jib to bring you around?

[marc ducharme]

Thanks guys. So "baldbaby2000' what would the sequence of events look like to back fill my jib and how would that help pull me around?

Oh and Frank I think I did hear hear something about small craft warnings and gale forces, but like the admiral says sometimes in my case air passes through the sail just a boy and his toy. In this case if something would have went wrong I would have beached it on the sand, and added more of the interesting markings on the boat.

QUESTION?

Why do scuff marks on a blue Mac look white Would i have a white mac if I scuffed it all up?

[baldbaby2000]

Thanks guys. So "baldbaby2000' what would the sequence of events look like to back fill my jib and how would that help pull me around?

Marc,

When I sailed Hobie 16s and 18s, especially the 16, the jib had to be backwinded to do a sucessful tack and not end up in irons. Basically you just leave the jib sheet cleated or tight on the side it's on before you tack. Then when you turn the boat into the wind the jib won't flap and come across but will backwind because it's cleated on the "wrong" side. This helps to pull the nose around. Once you're around you can release the jib and pull it to the correct side. I really haven't had to do this much with my Mac but I haven't been in 6 foot seas either.

[DLT]

It sounds like you're using the jib to push, rather than pull, the nose around...

[dgsl]

Marc, were you sailing on Slave Lake? If so, that lake is famous for huge waves, correct? How long is the lake and what are typical max wave heights? Sure looks like a nice place to sail!

A friend on mine sailed his 26X on Lake Athabasca a few years ago and he claims that he encountered 15-20 ft waves. Lake Athabasca is about 230 miles long.

I'm located on Williston and it's about 220 miles long with some interesting waves as well.

Darrell